Ford Motor Company (F) is the second-largest U.S.-based automaker and the fifth-largest in the world based on 2010 vehicle sales. Founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903, the company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand and luxury cars under the Lincoln brand. Ford owns small stakes in Mazda of Japan and Aston Martin of the UK. It employs about 213,000 employees at around 90 plants and facilities worldwide.

Jan. 10, the company increased its dividend 100% to $0.10 per quarter. Commenting on the dividend increase, Bob Shanks, Ford's CFO, said:

Our ability to double our dividend in one year is a testament to our One Ford plan, which has enabled us to maintain a solid balance sheet, while at the same time growing our business to provide our shareholders with more return on their investments.

Through the first three quarters of 2012, Ford increased its liquidity position by $2 billion and generated 10 consecutive quarters of positive automotive operating-related cash flow.

The dividend is payable on March 1, 2013, to shareholders of record on Jan. 30, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.9%.

Below are several other companies that have recently increased their cash dividends to shareholders:

Plains All American Pipeline LP (PAA), through its subsidiaries, engages in the transportation, storage, terminalling, and marketing of crude oil, refined products, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) products in the United States and Canada. Jan. 7, the partnership increased its quarterly distribution 3.7% to $0.5625 per unit. The distribution is payable Feb. 14, 2013, to holders of record of such units at the close of business on Feb. 1, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 4.6%.

Sabra Health Care REIT Inc. (SBRA) operates as a real estate investment trust in the U.S. Jan. 7, the company increased its quarter dividend 3% to $0.34 cents per share. The dividend is payable Feb. 28, 2013, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on Feb. 15, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 5.8%.

DDR Corp. (DDR) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the U.S. Jan. 7, the company increased its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.135 per share. The dividend is payable April 2, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised their dividends; it is not a list of recommend buys. As always, due diligence should be performed before buying or selling any stock. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.

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